A Long Deserved Ketchup

The past four weeks I have been on the road.

I saw and went through so many things on this tour. I attended literally half of this tour, which in just half of those dates, that's still longer than any other tour that they or I have ever done before... so I can't imagine them working each day in and day out double what I have done.

I am so very proud of them. My heart is completely full.

So much has happened... so much changed (for the better and the worse) on this tour... but I wouldn't have changed any of it. It panned out perfectly in the end.

I caught the first two shows of the tour back in June up in Cincinnati and Indianapolis. My photos from the Indianapolis shows are now present as the 100 Monkeys photo on their official Wikipedia page and on Jackson's official Wikipedia page. *pause for insanity* ...that's insane, right?

From there I went back to Houston and enjoyed my final time with Liz, whom I had been staying with since the beginning of the year. When I picked up the tour again, I wouldn't be coming back.

Mid-July I went down to Florida to pick up the tour again... Tampa, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale with a friend - then I met Jennifer up again in Birmingham, New Orleans (where I got Bourbon faced on Shit street... never again... ugh.), Houston, Dallas (where I left the Roaddog with my step mom, who still has her...), Austin (where it was 1000 degrees in the shade...), Tulsa, St. Louis, Kansas City...

I paused in Kansas City and missed the next three shows (from what I heard I didn't miss a whole lot...) so I could spend some time with my Mama... from KC I caught the next ones in Seattle, Spokane, Portland (best run yet), San Francisco (which I attended entirely alone), LA (I had a day off here that I spent alone, as well. It was interesting... this is also where Jennifer re-joined the tour), Las Vegas (another 1000 degree day in the shade...), Anaheim and then we all ended the tour in San Diego.

Of course there were snags here and there - that happens with life and of course that's going to happen when you're traveling and when you're working... but for the most part it was a very positive experience. I don't hold any bad memories with anything. (Except for perhaps NOLA... which was my own damn fault...)

I met some amazing people out this time! So many wonderful people brought me little tokens and things, which was completely amazing and so appreciated! I got several memory cards from people, Golden Flake chips, balloon animals and a DVD, a Best Buy gift card, some people bought me drinks and I got an obscene amount of HUGS!!!! <3 I am so grateful for each of you that took the time to come and say hello, talk to me and give me hugs and smiles. Y'all made it so amazing.

Unfortunately I don't have photos ready to offer up to y'all. I have a few... but I managed to fill up each of my memory cards AND my computer while on the road... so I can't do much until I can afford an external hard drive here in a couple weeks or so. (I'm putting that Best Buy gift card towards it!)

The Florida shows were pretty awesome... I have some great memories from Orlando and I finally got to see that ocean in person. I never had before...

Birmingham is always a good time - that's where a fan brought me an obscene amount of Golden Flake chips and a tour survival kit! <3 ...I have been to the past two shows that 100 Monkeys played at the Workplay theatre and so there was no way that I was going to miss them there this time around. It was so much fun...

I was so happy to get back to Kansas City. I know that I said I was so anxious to leave that town - but after being gone from it for a YEAR I was so happy to see my mother and those streets again. I introduced my mama to the band and she shot the show from the front row with me...

Check out my Mama's photos of 100 Monkeys here! She really enjoyed the show and the guys!

The Pacific Northwest was amazing. I caught up with my friend Kenzie there who lives in Portland and she was so hospitable!! <3 We had a blast in Seattle... it was the first time that I actually explored a city on my day off. We went to the first Starbucks, Pike's Market, the Space Needle and Viretta (Kurt Cobain) park.

For anyone who knows me a tad, knows that I love Nirvana and Kurt Cobain... it was completely emotional and wonderful. I was so moved by it and I felt entirely blessed that I was able to experience it.

The end of the tour was insane... I didn't cry as much as I had imagined, so many laughs were had and a multitude of memories were made. I'll never forget this...

Something that I have taken away from each show/most memorable about the city:

Cincinnati: "You shut up."
Indianapolis: Telling so many people about Spencer Bell.
Tampa: Seeing Bleeding Horse Express for the first time.
Orlando: The tallest stage I have ever encountered.
Ft. Lauderdale: Partying with Cassandra.
Birmingham: "You dance!"
NOLA: "It's so hot..."
Houston: Handcuffs. :)
Dallas: Getting the best email of my life.
Austin: Chain smoking in 110 degree weather.
Tulsa: You see... what had happened was...
St. Louis: Homeless people with records; 40 oz beers; spinning
Kansas City: Introducing my mama to the band!
Seattle: Seeing Kurt Cobain park. <3
Spokane: Being the only one in the photo pit. (That also happened in NOLA & Texas.)
Portland: Dancing harder than I ever have before at a 100 Monkeys show!!
San Francisco: Conversations about death and pants.
LA: BALLOONS!
Las Vegas: Watching the boys zipline across Fremont.
Anaheim: Some people have your back and some want to stab it.
San Diego: Thoroughly getting to say goodbye. <3

Where did I leave that Delorean? I'm ready to do it all over again.

Passion Vs. Photography

Fortunately I have people who believe in my photography and my art. Fortunately I have people who tell me that I capture 100 Monkeys unlike anyone else can... that they can see my passion for photography and my love for these boys in my photos.

I'm so thankful for that.

I may not be spot on with everything technical in each photograph - but I do know what I'm doing. (For what I am doing and what I am happy with.) I do make my living by this... although, I'm finally at a point where I feel like I don't have anything to prove to anyone.

My passion for photography is strong. I'd love to say that "I love my camera more than anything," but... that would be a lie. I love these boys more than anything. I'm just thankful that my love for them transcends the lens and is captured onto the shots that I bleed for.

I put my heart and soul into each shot and I hope that you can see the heat of the moment and the vibrancy of the music and THEIR passion through each photograph. That's my ultimate goal... not to make you feel MY love for them - but for you to feel THEIR love for the music and each other and their love for performing.

I re-edited a few photos from the last show on the winter tour... I've shared them everywhere else - it's time to share them here.

To those who support me and my photography - thank you so much. To those who don't - thank you so much.

Thanks for taking a look at them. Catch more at www.jodieplatzphotography.com and www.facebook.com/jodieplatzphotography

Each and every one of you who reads this is appreciated! Thank you so much for your support! I can't wait to see you on tour!

You're One Of Us

"All that I need is the air that I breathe, 

And all that I need are things I don't need, 

And all that really matters is what matters to me..."



Lyrics of the day by Blind Melon and could not be more true. Think about that for a while. Put it in your juice box and suck it.

This is a blog that I've been meaning to write since the very beginning of the year... and since I do not have my cheat sheet piece of paper, I hope that I can remember it all.

I documented each place that I traveled in 2010 and was pretty astounded. I believe there was only one month out of the year that I didn't travel: May. And you know what? Fuck May.

January: Tulsa, Las Vegas.
February: LA.
March: Des Moines, STL, Louisville.
April: Nashville, Birmingham, Memphis, Little Rock, Dallas.
June: Seattle.
July: LA, Scottsdale, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco.
August: Detroit.
October: Baton Rouge.
November: Baton Rouge (Several times.)
December: Baton Rouge, Atlanta, Birmingham, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Austin...

(And then of course at the beginning of my 2011 tally for cities traveled is Mission and San Antonio...)

Looks like I also didn't go anywhere in September, which makes sense because that's when I moved from Kansas City.

I definitely love to travel. I honestly wouldn't trade this life for anything in the whole wide world. No amount of money... no amount of bribery... there's honestly only one thing that will ever get me to stop and I will never say it out loud.

Picture of the day:

Another One Bites The Dust

"As we're driving out of Austin, I can still smell your perfume, 

I contemplate turning around every inch or two, 

My vision's kind of hazy, I don't look well at all, 

I don't believe I've ever felt so small, 

You come over to say hello in the brightest of the lights, 

I'm so impressed; you look your best, without an ounce of trying, 

I make light of a picture, and you're leaving with your friends 

And I've no doubt I'll never see you again, 

You may deceive me, but you made me try to make believe in

That there's something more we can't ignore but nothing we can do..."

Thank you so much to all of the incredible people that I met along the way this tour. It was by far the best one that I have been to yet. Unfortunately it passed all too fast and it kicked my ass harder than any of the other tours that I've been on.

We all started to get sick about half way through the tour and waking up the morning after New Years Eve was hard. However, for all the fun that I had on New Years Eve it was more than worth it. ;)

Here's a few photos from the week -- I am only edited up until NOLA...

ATLANTA:

 BIRMINGHAM:

NEW ORLEANS:

DALLAS:

AUSTIN:

Mission... I got some great photos from Mission... none of which are edited yet.

SAN ANTONIO:

I will post the rest of the photos once I've got them edited. ;)

At the end of the week -- if you look at the ATL meet and greet at the beginning of the week and the San Antonio meet and greet at the end of the week photo -- I lost 15lbs over the course of the tour.

I told my Mama all about the week and she says I need a new camera. I'm with what she says so now I'm camera shopping. :) I've got it narrowed down to three... of course, I don't think I can afford the one that I want -- the Canon 5D. *drools*

I am now taking donations for a new camera. Hah! *Kidding*

I am so thankful for everyone that I met along the road this tour. Thank you for supporting the boys, thank you for buying their concert tickets and tee shirts, thank you for screaming your asses off.

To the boys: I love each and every one of you. Thank you for all you've done for me. Your friendship, hugs, songs, lighter pops and blows, photos and high fives are so precious to me and I appreciate each one.

Until next time.

xx

Again, Again... Tour Is Coming.

"You got a lot, a lot of nerve, 

Coming here, 

When I'm still with him

And I can't have you, 

It isn't fair..."

Nine days until tour starts... this will be the third full week that I've been on tour with the boys. I'm already dreading the goodbye. It's never pleasant... I guess I'll get to that when I get to that.

Moving on... I believe that I'm nearing my 33rd show when we get to Atlanta, which means that the last date of tour, San Antonio, will be my 40th show. Funny how things work out like that, isn't it?

I have a few photoshoots scheduled for the tour stops as well... which, I'm stoked for! I can't wait to change it up a bit with the Monkey photos. It'll be nice to shoot something other than them while on tour.

For those not in the know, on the Houston date Jennifer and I will officially be considering Houston our home. Dropping our things off at the new place we'll be staying at and then heading to the show... Finally... Finally I am moving to Texas.

And then there's New Years... I am half looking forward to it, half dreading it and wishing that it didn't exist... only for reasons I can't really talk about... the crap that's in my head... but one thing that will be a plus from the day is that it's me and Jennifer's 11th friendaversary. 11 years she will have put up with my bullshit. Can you believe it? Let's get drunk.

My Least Favorite Things About Tour, by Jodie Platz

-Fangirls and Twihards that are aggressive.
-People who are nice to your face who talk behind your back. (I like consistency.)
-Line jumpers.
-People who hold spots all day long for their ten friends.
-People who scream when the cars pull up... or for this tours case: bus.
-People who molest the band.
-People who scream "JASSSSSSPERRRRRR!!!"
-People who bang on their windows and force me to put myself between them and the band...
-When there's nowhere around the venue to pee.
-When there are four opening acts and they all suck.
-When I get lost and can't find the venue... Oh wait, Micky has a Tom Tom! Wheeee!!
-Being hungry but feeling so anxious I can't eat.
-Sweating my makeup off.
-People who try to get in front of me by using the line, "I'm a photographer..." *shifty eyes, deadpan*
-Saying goodbye.

My Most Favorite Things About Tour, by Jodie Platz

-Seeing people's face light up when they see the band for the first time.
-Seeing people get converted from TwiHards to Monkey Junkies. (No matter how much I hate the word "Monkey Junkie" and no matter how much I DO NOT consider myself one...)
-Being on the road constantly.
-Rest stops/truck stops.
-Sleeping in the van while it's driving... peaceful.
-CHIPS!
-Taking the roaddog along for the ride.
-A new city every day.
-Getting dressed in the van and not giving a shit if the creeper two cars over is stealing a peek.
-The moment the boys take the stage.
-Being as drenched with sweat as they are because everything they're giving I'm giving back to them.
-High fives.
-Getting the venue before the band and helping them know where to park/eat/shop.
-The rush I get when my improv is chosen.
-Interaction.
-Seeing new venues. 
-Being dubbed a "road warrior" because I'm hardcore and don't get hotels each night. (RARELY get hotels... ever. Maybe one night each tour.)
-Saying goodbye... 

Yes, saying goodbye is on both lists... because while saying it is so hard, not saying it is even harder and I've always been masochistic... but... those goodbye hugs are better than any hugs in the world. They're perfect enough to try to make it last until the next time around.

Picture of the Day:

xx